STRONG winds and rough seas brought about by the Northeast Monsoon whipped Malita, Davao Occidental, and forced 83 families and 388 individuals to evacuate to safer areas in the province on Sunday.
Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Davao Region director Brigadier General Leoncio Cirunay, in a text message, said the displaced families included those from villages: Fishing Village, Pamana, Samtalika, and Salmona in Malita town.
Cirunay said the families are currently staying at the Utom Office and at Malita Central Elementary School in Malita after they were evacuated at 7 a.m. Sunday.
He also said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Council in Davao Occidental has conducted close monitoring in its areas for any untoward incident while the town has activated a 24/7 operation center.
Cirunay said the Davao Occidental Provincial Police Office has also issued notices to municipal police offices to closely monitor its respective areas of responsibility and coordinate with the local government units.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration reported that cloudy skies with light rains is expected in the regions Davao, Caraga, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Aurora.
It also said that moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast will prevail all throughout the archipelago with moderate to rough seas while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will prevail over the country.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Mindanao and Eastern Visayas becoming frequent rains over Caraga Region and Eastern Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides due to a trough of low pressure area and tail-end of a cold front. (ICT)